CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Before he read off a who's who list of NASCAR drivers he turned wrenches for, Leonard Wood walked onto the stage Friday night with a grin as wide as victory lane and giving the crowd a thumbs-up.

The 78-year-old's jubilation and his history in the sport that dates back to 1950 showed what the NASCAR Hall of Fame is all about: honoring and celebrating those who made stock-car racing what it is today.

Leonard Wood, right, joined his brother, Glen, in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. (AP Photo)

"It was a good thing they did the ring size, not the hat size," Wood said in his induction speech. "I wouldn’t have been able to have gotten it on."

Wood is far from having a big head, but the fact that it might have swelled with pride is enough to show what induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame means.

NASCAR history took center stage Friday night as the fourth five-member class included three of the great early drivers in the sport — Herb Thomas, Buck Baker and Cotton Owens — as well as recent star Rusty Wallace and Wood, the innovative crew chief.

Thomas won the 1951 and 1953 championships — becoming the first two-time champion of the sport — while finishing second in the standings in 1952 and 1954. He won 21 percent of the races he entered and was a three-time winner of the Southern 500.

Baker won the title in 1956 and 1957, and was second the year before and after those back-to-back crowns. His 46 career victories rank 14th all-time.

Owens was known for his driving ability and then for his role as a team owner. He won the 1957 race in Daytona Beach (on the beach/road course). He won 38 races as a car owner with Hall of Famers Junior Johnson and David Pearson among his drivers.

"He was not only a good guy who could drive, he was a good guy and one of the best friends I could have," Pearson said during the ceremony at the Charlotte Convention Center, which is attached to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Wood also was around for the early years of the sport and has been around for more than 60 years. As a crew chief, he won 94 races from 1950-1989 and is the innovator of the modern pit stop, as he created lightweight jacks and more efficient gas cans in addition to working on the choreography of a pit stop. The Wood Brothers won four Daytona 500s with Wood — and he celebrated their fifth Daytona 500 in 2011 when Trevor Bayne pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the race.

Leonard’s brother, Glen, was inducted last year for his accomplishments as the organization’s first driver.

"Glen and I always did things together," Leonard said. "We learned together and we won together. … I’m totally happy he made it first."

Wallace was the only modern driver inducted. Having retired in 2005, Wallace ranks ninth all-time with 55 career victories. The 1989 champion still works in the sport as an ESPN analyst.

An emotional Wallace talked about Wood in his speech. Wood was the first rival crewman to talk to Wallace after his first career victory at Bristol in 1986.

“Leonard was the first guy to congratulate me for winning Bristol and now I’m going into the Hall of Fame with you, buddy,” Wallace said. “That’s pretty neat.”

Family members accepted the inductions for the three deceased inductees.

Joel Thomas, son of Herb, said: “I firmly believe this is the highest honor a driver can receive. … My father would be very honored and humbled.”

Kyle Davis, grandson of Cotton Owens, said: “Most grandfather was one of the most humble, most loyal, hardest-working man I have ever met. He took great pride he could build a car from the ground up, … drive it to the track, drive it at the track and to victory lane. He was a wizard, truly, turning wrenches and behind the wheel.”

Susan Baker, widow of Buck Baker, said: "Buck always made an impression on people, whether it was good or bad. If you ever met him, you never forgot him.”